Only problem might be less nitrogen in the area, fixable, and my onions always loved iron too.
Fall/Winter Gardens 2014-15 Part 2
Mulching and adding compostable material is the solution to soil depletion. Of course, there's always slow-release fertilizer............LOL
Ken
We usually put a new layer of compost on each year and I always supplement my onions with a high nitrogen fertilizer, usually blood meal.
im really excited to get my seed going too, although i still have about one month's wait up here in VA to go.
Although i do have something else to be really excited about. My Puny 8Ft X 8Ft garden bed will get an expansion job this spring. Doubling the length of it to 16Ft X 8Ft
In fact ive already sketched out my plan for what will go where in it.
Onion thrips might be a problem. That is the main reason for planting in a different location each year.
I need to start geranium seed soon.
Hi Stephanietx - how lovely to have a heating mat and thermostat to add to your toolkit. That will likely cut some of your seed-sprouting time, I'm guessing.
jmc1987, excellent to double your gardening space. I need to get out my template and work that out. I'm pretty sure I will have more seeds started than I can possibly fit into my garden, but that's okay, I can always give a few to the neighbors. There is never enough room, I find!
Linda, that hydrogen peroxide did the trick.
Do folks ever bother to plant squash, cantaloupe or melon seeds ahead of time? Mine are growing great guns but I've already had to pot them up once and I'm afraid they might get away from me before it's time to plant outside. I do not want them to get pot-bound.
I always start my cantaloupe and melon in the greenhouse a month or so before it goes into the garden. No problem in doing that whatsoever, just like most any other vegetable seed.
Ken
Good to know, Ken. They just seem so far ahead of everything else. But maybe this year, I'll get some squash before the SVB take over.
The only things I start early are tomatoes & peppers. Everything else, I direct sow. We planted squash for the first time in many years last year. Our motto was plant a lot early and we might get a decent harvest before the SVB set in. Haven't had the SVB attack the melons or cantaloupe.
I start my cucumbers, peppers, and any tomatoes I can't find as plants around here. But I direct seed squash, okra, and peas (sugar snaps).
Been a long time everyone; allow me to chime in :). I just sowed tomatoes and peppers today, and have placed them under lights in my garage. I'm going "small" this year and have sowed Patio Hybrid & Better Bush Hybrid for now, both from Park Seed. I'll probably grow a few others, we'll see.
Also sowed bell peppers: the Sweet Rainbow Blend from Parks. Lots of colors!! Very excited.
On the squash front, I am giving up to some degree, and going with the parthenocarpic squash, which needs no pollination. I bought "Squash Partenon" from Parks, which is a zucchini, and will place them under a light row cover and (hopefully) reap lots of fruit for a long time! Take that, SVB!! Alas, there is no such plant for yellow squash that I know of. If anyone knows differently please let me know! Anyway, I wonder how these will taste?
Happy growing, everyone!
Tomatoes sowed 01/03/15.
Been potting up the seedlings this weekend. I guess-timate there are ~385 seedlings...
Potting up my tomatoes into single 1" pots today and tomorrow !
What the heck are you going to do with all those babies?
NEW THREAD HERE: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1385432/
###Please do not post to this thread. Please post on the new thread.###
Well, as usual, I'm a day late and a dollar short. Been reading what you "experts" have to say about starting veggies early, and I see I've missed the boat on tomatoes, which I thought I would start this week. :( DH and one son each gave me grow lights for Xmas, and I'm sooo excited to get started. It took me three days last week to clean out and reorganize a storage room attached to our workshop. I have a little electric heater, and I'm wondering if that will keep things warm enough in there. I plan to grow tomatoes, summer squash, zukes and spaghetti squash. That's about all my 10 X 20 garden space will accomodate. Grew those same things last year with much success----well, not perect success, because even though I put the tomatoes 4 feet apart, they were just so tall that the ones toward the back didn't get enough sun, and bore poorly. I'll try to arrange them better this time.
So, is now the time for starting the squashes indoors from seed? And when would I start tomatoes from seed for a fall crop? Oh, so much to learn!!
Sybil, please post to the new thread: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1385432/